Great Responsibilities

by Chris Simmons

In the early chapters of the book of Deuteronomy (chapters 4-8), we read of God’s plans to bless Israel with a land that He swore to their fathers, to clear out the nations that lived in the land so that they might enjoy the blessings God intended for them. But in those same chapters, we also read of the responsibilities they had to always remember that it was God who blessed them, to humble themselves before their God and to “diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God” (6:17). As with the Israelites, we are to always remember that God has blessed us beyond measure with “every spiritual blessing … in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3) but that with great blessings come great responsibilities. Consider the letter to the Ephesians in which the blessings of salvation and the church are expounded upon in chapters 1 through 3, Paul then identifies our responsibilities in chapters 4 through 6 to “walk” in a worthy manner – appropriate for the blessings we have received.

The writer of Hebrews makes this point in the context of Hebrews 10:19-25 by using the argument that “since” God has blessed us so tremendously, “let us” fulfill our responsibilities as recipients of these blessings.

The author begins identifying our blessings in verse 19 by saying, “Since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil.” Jesus, through His great sacrifice, has made it possible for man to “enter the holy place (the Holiest, NKJV)” and enjoy fellowship with Him. This means we have access to the Father as Paul identified in Ephesians 2:18, “for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” That includes the blessing of being “joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) and receiving “the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15) and the hope of being in His presence forever (I Thessalonians 4:17). We read in Hebrews 6:19-20, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Only when Jesus died and shed His blood, was the veil separating man from the most holy place torn in two, from top to bottom, thus indicating that His death on the cross paid the penalty for sin and man now had access to God through Jesus’ death.

Second, our great blessings are identified in Hebrews 10:21 where we read, “Since we have a great (high) priest over the house of God.” Jesus is a “great” high priest because He is one who has been “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-16; cf. 2:17-18). Therefore, Jesus is a high priest who can sympathize, offer mercy (compassion), and offer “grace to help” in our times of need. He will “come to our aid” if we will seek Him. He is “great” because He “abides a priest perpetually” (Hebrews 7:3) and because He “always lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25). Can we possibly fathom the depth and scope of these blessings in Christ? What do they mean to us? What responsibilities are we willing to accept because of them?

The writer’s point is that “since” we have these great blessings in Christ, “let us” then fulfill our responsibilities. Three times with the words “let us” are used in this context and call upon us to examine our lives accordingly.

First, “let us draw near” (10:22). We’ve got to get as close to God as we can! The question is, how “near” do we want to be to Jesus? As disciples, do we want to follow Jesus Christ, but only at a distance? How near did Peter want to be after Jesus was arrested? Matthew 26:58 says Peter, who once said he would never leave Jesus side even if it meant prison or death (Luke 22:33), was now following Him “at a distance,” as were many others (Matthew 27: 55). Following Jesus “at a distance” is in contradistinction to our responsibility to “draw near” to Him. In the beginning, Adam and Eve didn’t want to be very close to God after they sinned by partaking of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:8). So how near do we want to draw to God and how must we go about doing so? First, we must draw near “with a sincere heart.” We can’t draw near in hypocrisy. Secondly, we draw near “in full assurance of faith.” We can’t hope to draw near while doubting what God has revealed to us. Finally, we draw near “having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.” We can never draw near while impure and defiled because of sin. Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and we must pursue the forgiveness that’s found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We read in James 4:7-8, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Only if we heed His voice and accept His instruction will we ever fulfill our great responsibility to “draw near” to Him (Zephaniah 3:1-2).

Second, “let us hold fast” (10:23). We have the great responsibility to hold on and never let go no matter what may pull against us. The Hebrew writer says we must do so “without wavering,” that is, holding fast can never be an occasional thing. We are responsible for being consistent Christians who don’t allow the trials, temptations, and adversity to cause us to let go of our faith and hope. The recipients of the Hebrew letter had already endured a “great conflict of sufferings” but they were exhorted all the more to hold on and endure. Hebrews 10:35-36, “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” There’s no place to quit! But more than not quitting, we need to hold fast to our original confession (Hebrews 4:14), our original love (Revelation 2:4), and our original zeal (Revelation 3:15-16). One of the defining characteristics of those who wear the name “Christian” is the ability to live “with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord” (Acts 11:23, 26). The great blessings we receive demand that we fulfill our great responsibility to hold fast.

Finally, “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (10:24-25). All children of God bear the great responsibility to reach out to help our brethren draw near and also hold on. We need to continually remind ourselves, “It’s not just about me!” The writer explains that “our own assembling together” is not about what we get out of the worship service but about what we put into it. Our assembling together is first about glorifying and honoring God and then about our commitment to our consideration of our brethren’s needs to be encouraged, exhorted, and “stimulated.” The habit of missing the assembly is first selfish and fails to fulfill our great responsibility based on our great blessings. Such a habit is also foolish because our own spiritual growth and development depends on it. Assembling together is about considering others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4) and a demonstration of our understanding that the Lord’s church will never grow or prosper unless I do my “individual part” (Ephesians 4:16).

What great blessings we have in Christ! May we soberly, faithfully, and diligently attend to our great responsibilities with joy.